Collateral arterial blood supply to the normal and ischemic canine kidney.

Latex rubber was perfused into the abdominal aorta of 10 healthy dogs. Each kidney was found to have 4 to 6 vascular extensions of interlobar or arcuate arteries which communicated with an extrarenal artery. Renal collateral arterial connections were made with the phrenicoabdominal, spermatic, deep circumflex iliac, ureteral, caudal mesenteric, lumbar, and adrenal arteries. The renal collateral circulation was stimulated in 4 dogs by gradual compression of the renal artery and the presence of hypertrophied vessels confirmed by angiography. In 1 of these 4 dogs, the right renal artery was gradually compressed and finally occluded. Subsequently, contralateral nephrectomy was performed. Nine weeks later, the dog was still active, alert, and eating well.